Adjustable clamping means for concrete forms



April 5, 1938. I w sw 2,112,868

ADJUSTABLE CLAMPING MEANS FOR CONCRETE FORMS Filed May 11, 1956 2 Sheds-Sheet l April 5, 1938. J. w. SWANK 2,112,868 ADJUSTABLE CLAMPING MEANS FOR CONCRETE FORMS Filed May 11, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 InvenTo Y I 3'1 01/11/11 A Y-n-MQM *zkbwfi Ufiovnggs.

Patented Apr. 5, 1938 PATENT OFFIQE ADJUSTABLE OLAlVlPING MEANS FOR CON- CRETE FORMS James W. Swank, Chicago, IlL, assignor of onehalf to Raymond M. Calkins, Deer-field, Ill.

Application May 11, 1936, Serial No. 78,979

10 Claims.

My invention relates to adjustable clamping means for concrete forms and particularly for forms designed for use in connection with the operation of pouring concrete about an upright beam constituting the structural steel portion of a column. It is usual practice in this type of work to complete as a unit the portion of the column between floors of a building, with all of the concrete for such unit poured from about the w level of the upper floor. Under such circumstances, it is not unusual to pour concrete from a height of twenty or thirty feet above the point where the concrete is deposited, and it will be appreciated that the form must, therefore, be

iii. very strong and very strongly reenforced to receive the concrete and hold it to the desired size and shape to conform to the fittings which are to be used on the column and to conform to the position of the partitions or other building ele- O ments with which the column must have a definite predetermined relation.

It is the object of my invention to provide an improved form and arrangement of parts constituting the clamping means by which the form 25 panels are held in position and prevented from bulging outwardly under the heavy pressure to which they are subjected, by the use of which such clamping means can be quickly and easily applied in operative clamping position, by which 30 the desired close fit can be provided between the clamping means and the form panels corresponding to the precise size of column to be built, and by reason of which an operator is able easily to remove the clamping means and the form after 35 the concrete has set and dried.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an improved arrangement of rack bars and p-inions for applying power to the rack bars for moving them to their clamping position, to

40 gether with an improved arrangement of holding and operating pawls or latches by which power may be applied to both of the rack bars or to either of them separately for effecting the desired tightening of the bars on the form.

45 It is another object of my invention to improve devices of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which I have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the drawings and are herein- 50 after specifically described. That which I believe to be new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view through a 55 column and the formpanels within which the concrete of the column has been poured, showing a set of my improved adjustable clamping means in position thereon;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view, being'a section taken at line 22 of Fig. 1 upon an enlarged 5 scale;

Fig. 3 is an edge View of one of the clamping frames of my device, being substantially a vertical section taken on an enlarged scale at line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through said clamping frame arrangement taken also on an enlarged scale at line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken through my improved clamping frame, being partly broken away for clearness of illustration; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to a portion of the parts shown in Fig. 5 but illustrating a changed position of certain of the parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, l0 indicates a structural steel part in the form of an I-beam in vertical position in the frame-work of a building. Form panels ll, l2, l3 and M are shown in position forming a housing about the beam in and held in position by the means hereinafter described during the pouring of the concrete l5 about the beam 19, as is readily understood by those skilled in the art.

My improved clamping means for holding the form panels in position comprises a pair of rack bars l6 and il pivotally connected together at their adjacent ends by means of a bolt 58 and comprises further a second pair of rack bars l9 and 2E! pivotally connected together at their ends by means of a bolt 2!. Each of the bolts i8 and 2| is of the type illustrated in Fig. 2 comprising head portions 22 and 23 at opposite ends and circular bar engaging portions 24 and 25 which are positioned eccentrically with respect to each other. In the arrangement shown washers 26 are interposed between the parts, being held in snug frictional engagement with the bars I6 and l! and the head portions 22 and 23 so as to enable the bolt to have a strong gripping relationship to the engaged parts. By reason of this arrangement, the bolts are cap-able of being rotated by the application of a reasonable force thereto by means of a wrench applied upon the angular head portions 22, while at the same time the bolts are adapted to hold the bars I6 and I1 very strongly in adjusted position.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 1, the bars l6 and I! of one pair are in crossed relationship to the bars l9 and 20 of. the other pair respectively so as to provide for the application of frame members to the bars at their crossing points for applying power to the bars for tightening the series of bars as may be desired about the form panels. A frame member 21 is shown engaging the bars l6 and I9 at their crossing point, and a second frame member 28 is shown engaging the rack bars l1 and 29 at their crossing point. As is best shown in Fig. 3, each of the frame members 21 and 28 is in the form of a housing within which the rack bars. are slidably mounted, the arrangement being such that the rack bars are normally slidable freely through the frame members longitudinally of the bars, the smooth edges of the bars being in sliding engagement with bearing portions of the frame members positioned at right angles with respect to each other.

As is clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, each of the frame members 21 and 28 is provided with a shaft 29 in substantially central position therein having two pinions 30 and 3| revolubly mounted thereon in position to engage the teeth of the rack bars so as to hold said bars strongly in position at right angles to each other. Each of said shafts has a lever 32 pivotally mounted thereon between the pinions so as to swing freely about the shaft within the housing. The lever 32 is provided at one face with an operating pawl 33 in position to engage the pinion 30 and is provided at its opposite face with a pawl 34 in position to engage the pinion 3|, such pawls in the arrangement shown being pivotally mounted upon a bolt 35 of any approved form. Each of the pawls 33 and 34 is held yieldingly by a spring 36 in engagement with the adjacent pinion, such springs 36 in the arrangement shown being mounted upon the lever 32 by means of a bolt 31. The arrangement is such that upon swinging movement of the lever 32 in opposite directions about the shaft 29 the pinions 39 and 3| are given rotary movement for changing the longitudinal adjustment of the rack bars, the pinion 30 being driven by the pawl 33 in clockwise direction in Fig. 5, while the pinion 3|. is

:driven in counter-clockwise direction by the pawl 34.

For holding the pinions 30 and 3| against rotation in the opposite direction, I have provided pawls or latches 38 and 39 in position to engage the respective pinions. The pawl or latch 38 is pivotally mounted upon the frame member by means of a bolt 48 and is normally held in operative engagement with the pinion 30 through the medium of a flat spring 4| mounted upon the frame member. The pawl or latch 39 in turn is pivotally mounted upon the frame member by means of a bolt 42 in position to engage the pinion 3|, being held normally in engagement with said pinion by a fiat spring 43 mounted on the frame member.

The means for operating the lever 32 in my ,"improved arrangement comprises a handle member 44 which is provided with a socket 45 in one end adapted to be slid readily over the outer end of the lever 32 into effective engagement therewith as is shown in Fig. 5. As is also shown in said figure, the pawls 33 and 34 are provided with lugs 46 and 41 respectively which project slightly beyond the edge faces of the lever 32. The length of the socket 45 is greater at one edge face than at the opposite edge face and the handle member 44 is' arranged so as to be reversible through an angle of upon the lever 32 so as to bring the longer edge face of the socket into position opposite either of the lugs 46-41 as may be desired. The arrangement is such that when the handle 45 is in the position as shown in Fig. 5, the lever 32 may be manipulated through the medium of the handle 44 for causing rotation of the pinions 30 and 3| successively in opposite directions upon swinging movement of the lever. The arrangement further is such that when the handle member 44 is pressed inwardly toward the shaft or axle 29 the longer face portion of the socket 45 by engagement with the lug 46 or 41 forces the corresponding pawl 33 or 34 out of engagement with its pinion. As will be readily understood, when the handle 44 is held pressed inwardly as shown in Fig. 6, upon swinging movement of the handle the pinion 3| is given a rotary movement upon each stroke of the handle toward the right in said figure. The pinion 30, however, is permitted to remain in unchanged position during the swinging movement of the handle so long as the pawl 33 is held out of operative position. If it were desired to throw the pawl 34 out of operation rather than the pawl 33, this would be accomplished by pressing the handle 44 inwardly toward the axle 29 in the position as shown in Fig. 5 rather than in the reverse position as shown in Fig. 6.

As is clearly shown in said Fig. 6, when the handle 44 is pressed inwardly to the limit of its motion toward the axle 29 so as to throw the pawl 33 out of engagement with the pinion 38, and when in such position the handle 44 and lever 32 are moved to the limit of their motion toward the left in said Fig. 6, the pawl 33 is brought into engagement with the latch or pawl 38 for releasing said latch from the pinion 30. If the handle 44 were reversed from the position shown in Fig. 6 and were forced inwardly for throwing the pawl 34 out of engagement with the pinion 3|, and the handle 44 and lever 32 were then swung to the limit of their motion toward the right in Figs. 5 and 6, the pawl 34 would then by engagement with the latch or pawl 39 throw such latch out of engagement with the pinion 3|.v

When it is desired to secure a form in position about a beam by the use of my improved clamping means, the rack bars are placed in position about the form and their end portions are slid into position within the frame members 21 and 28. The bars are then tightened in position by'a swinging movement of the handle and the lever 32. If it is desired to rotate only one of the pinions 30--3|, this can be readily accomplished through the medium of the handle 44 in the.

proper position as shown in either Fig. 5 or Fig. 6. If it appears at about the end of the tightening operation that the bars cannot be tightened completely through the medium of a tooth by tooth adjustment, then the handle 44 is removed from the lever 32 and is applied to the proper one of the bolts |.8 or 2| and such bolt is given the required rotary movement for giving the final adjustment between the rack bars for insuring the firm clamping of the bars about the form. With the pressure being applied to the bars I6 and H in different directions at right angles to each other, the bolts I8 and 2| are enabled to hold the bars in adjusted position against a very heavy pressure, the bolts being held themselves solely by their frictional engagement with the cooperating parts.

When it is desired to remove the form after the hardening of the cement, the bolts l8 and 2| are preferably turned for loosening the bars initially, and the handle 44 is then applied in position as shown in Fig. 6 for releasing the latch 38 or is applied in reversed position as above described for releasing the latch or pawl 39.

In Fig. 5, the handle 44 is shown as being provided with a notch 48 in its outer end for application to one of the bolts I82| for manipulation thereof.

By the use of my improved clamping means, I am enabled very quickly and easily to apply heavy pressure to a form and to tighten the form as may be desired for the placing of the concrete. When the concrete has hardened, the latches 38 and 39 can be very quickly and easily thrown out of holding position, and if there is any difficulty with respect to releasing the latches 38 and 39 the difficulty can be very readily overcome by a prelimi-' nary loosening of the series of rack bars by a rotary movement of one or both of the bolts l82l.

While I prefer to employ the form of apparatus as show in my drawings and as above described, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited thereto except so far as the claims may be so limited by the prior art.

I claim:-

1. In a clamping means for concrete forms, the combination of a series of connected bars adapted to be applied upon a column form and comprising two rack bars in crossed relationship, a frame member having sliding engagement with said rack bars, pinions mounted concentrically on said frame member in mesh with said rack bars respectively and free to rotate independently of each other, a lever adapted to swing about the axes of said pinions, pawls on said lever engaging said pinions respectively and each adapted upon a stroke of the lever in one direction to rotate the pinion in engagement therewith, and other pawls carried by said frame member and engaging said pinions respectively for holding the pinions normally against rotation in the direction for loosening the bars about the form.

2. In a clamping means for concrete forms, the combination of a series of connected bars adapted to be applied about a column form and comprising two rack bars in crossed relationship, a. frame member having sliding engagement with said rack bars, pinions on said frame member meshing with said rack bars respectively, a lever and cooperating devices adapted by a stroke of the lever in one direction to rotate one of said pinions for moving the engaged rack bar in the direction for tightening said bars about the form and adapted by a stroke in the other direction to rotate the other of said pinions for moving the engaged rack bar in the direction for tightening said bars about the form, and pawls adapted by engagement with said pinions to hold said bars in tightened condition.

3. In a clamping means for concrete forms, the combination of a series of connected bars adapted to be applied about a column form and comprising two rack bars in crossed relationship, a frame member having sliding engagement with said rack bars, pinions on said frame member meshing with said rack bars respectively, a lever and cooperating devices adapted by a stroke of the lever in one direction to rotate one of said pinions for moving the engaged rack bar in the direction for tightening said bars about the form and adapted by a stroke in the other direction to rotate the other of said pinions for moving the engaged rack bar in the direction for tightening said bars about the form, pawls adapted by en-' gagement with said pinions to hold said bars'in tightened condition, and means connected with said lever and operable thereby for releasingsaid pawls for permitting loosening movement of said; bars.

4. In a clamping means for concrete forms, the combination of a series of connected bars adapted to be applied about a column form and compris ing two rack bars in crossed relationship, a frame member having sliding engagement with said rack bars, pinions on said frame member meshing with said rack bars respectively, a'lever and cooperating devices adapted by a stroke of the lever in one direction to rotate one of said pinions for moving the engaged rack bar in the direction for tightening said bars about the form and adapted by a stroke in the other direction to rotate the other of said pinions for moving the engaged rack bar in the direction for tightening said bars about the form, pawls adapted by engagement with said pinions to hold said bars in tightened condition, and means connected with said lever and operable thereby for releasing either of said pawls alternatively for permitting loosening movement of the corresponding rack bar. i

5. In a clamping means for concrete forms, the combination of a series of connected bars adapted to be applied about a column form and comprising two rack bars in cross relationship, a frame" member having sliding engagement with said rack bars, pinions on said frame member meshing with said rack bars respectively, a lever pivotally mounted on the axis on which said pinions are mounted, pawls pivotally mounted on said lever and extending in opposite directions therefrom into engagement with said pinions respectively adapted upon successive strokes of the lever in opposite directions to rotate the respective pinions for tightening the bars about the form, releasable latches for holding said pinions against rotary movements in the reverse directions, and means movably mounted on said lever operable in one position for moving one of said pawls out'of engagement with its pinion and operable in an-' other position for moving the other of said pawls out of engagement with its pinion.

6. In a clamping means for concrete form'sythe combination of a series of connected bars adapted to be applied about a column form and compris ing two rack bars in crossed relationship; a frame member having sliding engagement with said rack bars, pinions on said frame member meshing with said rack bars respectively, a lever pivotally mounted on the axis on which said pinions are mounted, pawls pivotally mounted on said lever and extending in opposite directions therefrom into engagement with said pinions respectively adapted upon successive strokes of the lever in opposite directions to rotate the respective pinions for tightening the bars about the form, releasable latches for holding said pinions against rotary movements in the reverse directions, and means movably mounted on said lever operable in one position for moving one of said pawls out of engagement with its pinion and adapted in said position at the end of a stroke of the lever in one direction to release the latch fromsaid pinion and operable in another position for moving the other of said pawls out of engagement with its pinion and adapted in such position at the end of a stroke of the lever in one direction to release the latch from said other pinion.

7. In a clamping means for concrete forms, the

on said lever for forming an operative extension combinationof, a series of. connected bars adapted to;be applied about a column form and comprising tworack bars in crossedrelationship, a frame member: having sliding engagement with said rack bars, pinions on said frame member meshing with said rack bars respectively, a lever pivotallyv mounted. on the axis on which said pinions are mounted, pawls pivotally mounted on said lever and extending in opposite directions therefrominto engagement with said pinions respectively adapted-upon successive strokes of the lever in opposite directions tov rotate the respective pinions for, tightening the bars about the form, releasable latches for'holding said pinions against rotary: movements in the reverse directions, and meanssliclably mounted on said lever and reversible-through an angle of thereon operable in one position for moving one of said pawls out of engagement with itspinion' and operable in the reverse position for moving the other of said pawlsout of engagement with its pinion.

, 8. Inaclamping means for concrete forms, the combination of a series ofconnected bars adapted to be'applied about a column form and comprisingtwo rack bars in crossed relationship, a frame member having sliding engagement with said rack bars, pinions on said frame member meshing-with said rackrbars respectively, a lever pivotally mounted. on the axis on which said pinions are mounted, pawls pivotally mounted on said lever and extending in opposite directions therefrom into engagement with said pinions respectively adapted upon successive strokes of the leverinopposite directions to rotate the respective pinions for tightening the bars about the form, releasable latches for engaging and holding said pinions against rotary movements in'the reverse directions, the latches being engaged by their respective pawls for release from said pinions, and, an operating handle slidably mounted thereof andreversible through anangle of 180 thereon operable in one position for moving one ofv saidrpawls out of engagement with its pinion and adapted insuch position at the end of a stroke of the lever in one direction to move said pawl into engagement with its respective latch to release said latch from said pinion and operable in thereverse position for moving the other of said,pawls out of engagement with its pinion and adapted in such position at the end of a stroke of the lever mane directionto move said other pawl into engagement with its respectivelatch to. re-

lease said latch from said other pinion.

9. In a clamping means for concrete forms, the combination of a series of connected bars adapted to be applied about a column form and comprising two rack bars in crossedrelationship, a frame member having sliding engagement with said,

rack bars, pinions on said frame member meshing with said rack bars respectively, a lever pivotally mounted on the axis on which said pinions are mounted, pawls pivotally mounted on said. lever and extending in opposite directions therefrom into engagement with said pinions respectivelyl adapted upon successive strokes of the lever in opposite directions to rotate the respective pinions for tightening the bars about. the form releasable latches for holding said pinions against rotary movements in the reverse directions, and an operating handle slidably mounted on said lever for forming an operative extension thereof and reversible through an angle of 180 thereon, said handle being longer at one face than atthe opposite face and being adapted when pressed toward the axis of the lever in either of its said two positions to engage one of said pawls at the longer face of the handle for throwing suchpawl out of operative position while at the sametime clearing the other pawl so as to leave such other pawl in operative position.

10. In a clamping means form with the bars of each pair in crossed relationship to the bars of the other pair respectively, each of said bars being provided with a series of teeth on its outer edge at its free end portion, two frame members through each of which the crossed bars at one corner extend with their smooth edges engaging bearing portions of the frame member positioned at right angles toeach other, two pinions on each of said frame members in concentric position with respect to each other and in mesh with the teeth of the crossed bars serving to hold the bars in engagement with said bearing portions so as to prevent the bars from movement out of operative relation to each other, and pawl and lever means for rotating said pinions in the direction to tighten the bars about .the form and for holding the pinions against reverse rotation.

JAMES W. SWANK.

for concrete forms, the combination of .four bars pivotally connectedv together in pairs for application about a column, 

